"Twenty-sevendom"

I can’t believe it’s the last day of February! The greatest, yet the shortest, month of the year is now coming to a close. I turned 27 this month. I have talked to a number of friends who really didn’t like turning 27, or who are dreading its impending arrival. I don’t know, though. I welcomed 27 with open arms and so far, it’s been good to me. If this month is any indication of what the other eleven months of “twenty-sevendom” can hold, I am pretty excited.

Around my birthday, as I reflected on “twenty-sixdom,” I decided I wanted to more time doing hobbies and trying new things during the next year. I feel like I’ve gotten into the rhythm of a full-time job and life in Provo, and now I want to branch out and be more constructive with the time I have. We’ll see how this goes, but this past week gave me some golden opportunities to try my hand at some new skills!

I spent the last few days in St. George at the Utah Art Educators Association conference. It was great fun. There was a room at the conference where people could go and “throw” pots, meaning make a ceramic pot on a pottery wheel. I’d never done that before, so I thought I’d give it a try. It was so cool—even better than the movies:) It was really enjoyable, pretty tricky but yet therapeutic. I made a small vase that is about 5 inches tall and wide at the bottom. We used three different colors of clay, so it’s marbled with grey, orangy-red and cream. It looks cool, and probably only because I had a ceramics teacher helping me with it. Alas, I had no camera with me, or I would have taken pictures of the process.

Also, my co-worker and I noticed that our hotel was right by Fiesta Fun, “where the fun never sets!” Last night, after the conference, we went to the batting cages. I haven’t batted for ages! I played softball officially one season in junior high and many unofficial seasons in the Young Women's "league" (ha!), but it wasn't really my thing. I was usually in the outfield, hoping the ball wouldn’t come my way. There must have been magic at the air at Fiesta Fun last night, because I was hitting every pitch! I had some doosies. It felt great! I think it was a little bit more therapeutic than the pottery wheel.

True Wisdom

I've never been a huge follower of comic strips, but I have always LOVED Calvin and Hobbes. I think it is absolutely brilliant! Calvin is one of the most profound philosophers of our era... Funny, wise, insightful, smart. They just make me laugh--it's the best of a kid's combined with the philosophy and social commentary of the best minds:

Some great Calvinism's are among my favorite quotes:

"You know, Hobbes, some days even my lucky rocketship underpants don't help."

"Why isn't my life like a situation comedy? Why don't I have a bunch of friends with nothing better to do but drop by and instigate wacky adventures? Why aren't my conversations peppered with spontaneous witticisms? Why don't my friends demonstrate heartfelt concern for my well being when I have problems? ...I gotta get my life some writers."

And one more brilliant one from Calvin:

"I'm a simple man, Hobbes."
"You?? Yesterday you wanted a nuclear powered car that could turn into a jet with laser-guided heat-seeking missiles!"
"I'm a simple man with complex tastes."

So, as I am sitting here, cracking up, I'm wondering if maybe they're only funny once you've really explored the world of Calvin and Hobbes.... ? Maybe. If you have, enjoy. If not, I highly recommend it :)

Rainy Sunday Night Insomnia

I am dedicating this post to my amazing and inspiring roommate, Tracy. Among her wide range of talents, she is an avid blogger. She does something, and then she blogs about it--amazing turnaround speed! Well, a couple weeks ago the two of us were given personalized cake decorating lessons from the Bishop's wife. Next day, Tracy had pics and everything on her blog. Last Monday morning we went to the Draper Temple open house. We got home and by the time I had eaten my lunch, she had blogged about it. Tracy's been giving me pep talks, so I vowed I would blog this weekend. I have exactly 66 minutes to keep my promise, so here goes!

I have not been sleeping very well lately. Maybe it was the birthday cake, maybe the excitement of my new job, maybe it's part of life in my late 20's, I'm not sure. I just haven't been having really restful sleeps. I had one night last week where I actually woke up and felt like I had had a good sleep. In fact, I must have entered REM because I had a really vivid dream, in which I was dating Tom Hanks, who was just an ordinary guy, and I was Miley Cyrus but couldn't sing, so I had a voice double. Strange, but memorable.

So, I emailed one of my friends and mentioned the whole sleep issue, and we've been corresponding about that. I use Gmail, and one thing that I always find amusing are the side bar "attractions" -the random links to various sites that pop up to the side of the email based on key words within the text of my emails. So, when I looked to the side tonight, there was a link there that made my night! Usually if I can't sleep, I will lay there and try and act really relaxed, hoping to drift off again. If that fails, I either opt for reading awhile or eating cold cereal. Both of these have proved to be hit-or-miss. Little did I know that am going about it ALL wrong!! This ad that popped up tonight just might be the solution to my sleep problem:

Apnea? Play a Didgeridoo

It helps and it's fun. Big range of quality didgeridoos. Expert advice.
www.LAOutback.com/Didgeridoo/Apnea

Anyone got a spare Didgeridoo? It helps and, hey, it's fun, too :)